After Josefina Ruiz learned she may only have months to live, she asked for one last wish – to marry her best friend. Now an outpouring of support has helped make that wish come true.
The former dancer for ballet Folklorico Manquetzalli was diagnosed with colon-rectal cancer last year at the age of 47 and “has been fighting the biggest battle of her life" ever since.
"God bless every single person (who) helped us," Ruiz said.
She was recently told by doctors that her cancer has spread to her liver and lungs and she has an estimated 3 to 6 months left to live.
"When he told me I said, 'I don't believe it,'" she said. "I said, 'No, this is not happening to me. No."
Ruiz said she's now waiting for a miracle, but that miracle may just be her best friend and "soulmate" Luis Montejano, who quit his job to take care of her.
He recently tried on his tuxedo one last time before the wedding made possible by the generosity of friends and supporters.
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"He's a wonderful man," she said. "He's my angel."
Ruiz proposed to Montejano two months ago, saying "it is the last thing I want to do -- marry him."
"I wish I had more time with her," he said. "I pray that I do, regardless whether it is months of years."
With a date set for Oct. 8, the day the couple met 10 years earlier, in the groom’s sister’s South Chicago backyard, many helped make Ruiz’s final wish come true.
Supporters have donated things like food, a wig, centerpieces, décor, minister services, a wedding cake and more. Her sister even made her a wedding dress.
Instead of traditional wedding gifts, the couple is asking guests for gift certificates to help Josefina travel to her doctor's appointments.
A GoFundMe has raised thousands of dollars to help the couple and is still accepting donations.
